Research
Chiral Nanomaterials
Chiral materials possess a unique property called chirality, where their structure and properties differ based on their orientation in space. This means they cannot be superimposed on their mirror image, similar to how left and right hands are distinct. These materials play a crucial role in various scientific fields, including chemistry, physics, and biology, due to their ability to interact differently with polarized light and other chiral substances. Applications of chiral materials range from pharmaceuticals, where they influence drug efficacy, to advanced technologies like quantum computing and optoelectronics, where their unique properties enable innovative device functionalities.
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My research illustrates the discovery of tunable dimensionality of chirality- from 3D to 2D, in atomically thin film transition metal dichalcogenides. The collapse of dimensionality brings along an ultra-high chirality and ultra-sensitive optoelectronic response to distinguish quantum states of photons and record anomalous quantum effects such as vanishing of Cotton effect.
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Detailed publications:
[1] Y. Wang, Y. Zhu, H. Yan, Y. Li, Y. Wang, M. Chhowalla, “Chiral two-dimensional MoS2 by molecular functionalization as ultra-sensitive detectors for circularly polarized light”, 2024, ArXiv (Corresponding Author)
DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2404.06555
Devices for Energy-efficient Computing
In classical von Neumann computers, the primary inefficiency stems from the data transfer between separate processing and memory units. Developing complex material systems that process and store information at the nanoscale beyond Moore’s law can enhance energy efficiency in computing devices among the computing technologies that operate at high speeds with low energy consumption, non-volatility, and affordability. This challenge can be mitigated by integrating these units through innovative material design. Unlike electronic engineers who focus on improving circuit design on silicon wafers, I create energy-efficient device architectures using functional molecules on two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors. These semiconductors are poised to surpass the limitations of silicon in electronic devices.
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Logic-in-Memory Architectures
To overcome the von Neumann bottleneck, I explored logic-in-memory architectures, which merge logic and memory units to enhance data encoding and retrieval efficiency. Using 2D semiconductors like transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), I integrated memory functionality through supramolecular lattices with memory capabilities. This method employs photochromic molecules such as azobenzene, enabling simultaneous read, compute, and write operations.
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Neuromorphic Architectures
In neuromorphic computing, I developed an electrochemical-driven approach to simulate short-term potentiation (STP) and long-term plasticity (LTP) within a single synapse. This involves electrochemical deposition of charged molecules (ferrocene/ferrocenium) on 2D materials, creating a compact artificial synapse with 16 levels of synaptic memory, showcasing high energy efficiency and data manipulation density.
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Detailed publications:
[1] Y. Wang, B. Han, M. Mayor, P. Samorì, “Opto-electrochemical synaptic memory in supramolecularly engineered Janus 2D MoS2”, Adv. Mater. 2023, 202307359.
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202307359
[2] Y. Wang, D. Iglesias, S. M. Gali, D. Beljonne, P. Samorì, “Light-Programmable Logic-in-Memory in 2D Semiconductors Enabled by Supramolecular Functionalization: Photoresponsive Collective Effect of Aligned Molecular Dipoles”, ACS Nano, 2021, 15, 13732–13741.
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c05167
Ultrafast spintronics and orbitronics
In collaboration with Ciccarelli Group at Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, we research in how chiral induced spin selection in chiral nanomaterials behaves at ultrafast domain. This fundamental research is expected to reveal physical mechanisms of the chirality and electronic spin polarization, as well as provide useful guidance in next-generation ultrafast spintronics and orbitronics computing.